SAN DIEGO — As it gets warmer, more and more people will head to community pools. Over the next three years, the City of San Diego's budget for pool repairs will grow from $3 million to $12 million.
Shanelle Thomas signed her kids up for swim lessons at Kearny Mesa's community pool, where $1.2 million is going to be spent on repairs.
"It's amazing that the city is prioritizing that. it allows kids that don't have the opportunities to have swimming pools, to be able to utilize the pools in their communities," said Thomas.
The first two pools to be renovated will be Clairemont, where the budget will be $1.2 million and the Martin Luther King Jr pool in Encanto with a budget of $750,000.
The work at the two pools will be partly funded by a state grant that's separate from the new budget increase. Both are expected to start after the summer season.
Five pools are getting more than $1 million from the deal.
- $1.2 million for the Clairemont pool
- $1.5 million for the Carmel Mountain pool
- $1.3 million for the Swanson Pool in University City
- $1.3 million for the Kearny Mesa pool
- $1.5 million for the Tierrasanta pool
- The Vista Terrace pool in San Ysidro will be getting $750,000
The city told CBS 8, that following the pools in Clairemont and Encanto, repairs will be addressed on a case-by-case basis as the funds become available. They will occur when pools are closed for the season.
Thomas hopes that these fix-ups allow more people to enjoy a dip in the pool.
"I hope that more families utilize this opportunity with the grant they received so more people can learn how to swim," said Thomas.
WATCH RELATED: How to stay safe at the beach amid nationwide uptick in drownings